Bed tray with illuminating means



W. E. JANSSEN BED TRAY WITH ILLUMINATING MEANS Nov. 11, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1947 INVENTOR- Vl ebsier fi'Janssen A TTORNE Y6.

W. E. JANSSEN BED TRAY WITH ILLUMINATING MEANS Nov. 11, 1952 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1947 Vial/14w.

. INVENTOR.- We/qsfer liJanssen I #Qw w A T TOR/V5 Y6.

NOV. 11, 1952 w, E, JANSSEN 2,617,917

BED TRAY WITH ILLUMINATING MEANS Filed April 26, 1947- s Sheets-Sheet 5 3 g A TTOR VE Y5 INVENTOR. Websfer f. Jdnsserl Patented Nov. 11, 1952 r .1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. (01. 240-4) The present invention relates to an improved table, bed tray or similar-device provided with lighting means for reading or other purposes.

Objects and advantages'of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 isa cross-sectional view of a typical and illustrative embodiment of the present invention said view being taken along line I-I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lighting unit for the tray shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bed tray shown in Fig. 1;.

' Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Fig. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. Bis a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of the invention showing in detail the light mounting and reflector;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6 with the removable reflector panel unit removed and wiring broken away; l

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8.8 of Fig. 7; v

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9+9 of Fig. 7; and,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the removable reflector panel unit for the embodiment shown in- Fig. 6.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved bed tray or similar device for use by invalids'or others wishing to eat and read in bed the tray including pivotal means for supporting thematter to be read and means for adequately lighting the reading matter. Another object of the invention is to provide such tray with lighting means which will fully illuminate the tray and reading matter but will not shine in the eyes of the person using the tray.

Refe' ring now in detail to the illustrative emin Fig. 2 of the drawings, and comprises a botbodiment of the invention shown by way ofex ample in the accompanying drawings, the tray is generally 'ofa conventional form in so far as it is provided with a horizontal fixed panel ID, a

pivotal panel I I at the back of 'thetray, and front and rear legs I2 and I3 capable of being folded into the under side of the tray. As shown, thc framework of the tray includes a pair of frame members I4 extending from-the front to the rear of the tray upon which the stationary horizontal panel Iil'is supported. Side panels 15 are provided secured to frame members I4 and extend somewhat above the panel It to form a ledge at" either side thereof, and a rear panel I6 joins'the rear ends of members I4 and likewise extends upwardly to form a rear ledge for thetable portion of the tray. I

As clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the panel II is pivotally connected to the rear edge of the panel I0 by means of a pair of hinges I], so that it may form a horizontal extension of the panel Ill at the rear of the tray or may be raised to provide a support for reading matter .or other articles conveniently rested against it.

A prop member I8 with feet I9 is connected to a A pair of blocks 23 are secured to frame'members I4 and front panel It, and a second pair of blocks 24 are arranged at the rear of the tray secured to members I4 and rear panel I6, these blocks serving as supports for the folding legs I2 and I3. The pairs'of legs I2 and I3 at either side of the tray are mounted on shafts 25 and smaller shafts 26 and 21 extending into apertures in blocks 23 and 24 respectively mount the legs for folding. Coiled springs 28 are arranged about shafts 26 biasing the leg'and shaft assemblies I2, I3 and 25 toward therear of the tray, and the legs I3 and their respective blocks 24 are provided with corresponding square extensions and depressions 29 and 30 respectively so that the legs may be secured in upright position and unlocked by displacing toward the front of the tray.

The lighting means for the bed tray of the present invention is incorporated in a unit which is easily assembled with the other parts of the tray or separated therefrom. The unit is shown tom horizontal panel 35and a vertical panel 36 curve about the lower cylindrical surface of the lamp 38 and then has a substantiallyvertical reach 43 ending in a flange 44 which is secured to panel 35. At its other extent the reflector 42 is. formed in a vertically extending portion 50 which bears against and parallels front panel 3B,"and a turned edge 45 is preferably provided fitted into:

a groove in the panel to anchor the reflector in place.

Asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, the illuminating,

unitidescribed may form thefront portion of the bed tray, the panels 35 and 35 being the-width of thetray, and the unit is secured in place by.

screws 46 extending-through the front panel 36 intozthe ends of frame members l4, and screws 41 extending through lower panel 35 and. into the :bottom:of the frame members.

tangular relieved place'at its front edge'corresponding in length to the length of the fluorescent lamp. 38, and a piece of glass or other translucent material .48 is positioned in the relieved place to allow illumination of the tray and likewise :act as.a;.portion of the horizontal table thereof. As shown in detail in Fig. of the drawingsga'pair of channel members 5| are preferably secured to the horizontal panel I 0 one at either lateral mar gin of the rectangular relieved place to securely and:...removably position the glass 48.

In-theconstructionfor a bed tray as shown and..described it will be apparent that light from the lamp will be reflected and focused upwardly by the reflector 42 and the reach 50 thereof will reflect the light toward the back or thetray and directlyiupon the panel I I when it is 'ina raised position. The tray and particularly the panel ll are thus adequately illuminated; the. light source is convenientlyout of the way beneath. the table ofthe tray,*and the eyes of the user are protected from light glare by the front panel 35, which pre vents any direct beam of light toztheeyes.

Referring now to the modified-embodiment of the invention shown inFigs. 6 to inclusive of the drawings, the tray structure is generallysimilar'to that of the embodiment already described except that a differently formed and positioned reflector. is utilized and the lighting means is differently positioned. As shown, thetray is:

formed with a horizontal panel 52, it lzveing'understoodthat a tiltable back panel is associated therewith in the. manner already:describedior; the s-flrst embodiment .of the invention. Forward f blocks v53 are provided 'lfOI'j mounting. the: front.. legs .54, and in this. embodimentalower trans-- verse panel 55- extends between the side panels- 56 and abutsthe front surfaces of the blocks 53; being firmly secured in'placein thetray structure;

The fluorescent light 57 is-removably secu-red in a-pair of contact brackets-58 which 'are secured to'transverse panel 55- asshown in detail in-Fig; 6. The reflector -55 of this rembodimenty'of the-- The. horizontal panel 10 of thetray is formed with arecinvention is secured to the vertical panel 60 of the removable unit 60-6l, brackets 62 being utilized to strengthen the construction of the panel unit. The reflector 59 is provided with an upper extent 63 which is inclined to the vertical beginning at about the level of horizontal panel 52, and a wedge shaped backing member 64 may be used to brace the reflector. As in the previous embodiment described, a glass or other translucent member 65 is-Iprovided a" relieved placealong a central portion of the front edge of panel 52. A suitable switch 66 is provided in a side panel 56, and a prong electric plug 61 is positioned at theother side of the tray, secured to panel 55, and extending through a suitable aperture'ina panel '56. A suitable and conventional inductance may be provided in the lighting circuit.

In-the embodiment of the invention just described it will be apparent that the reflector 59 will receive light from the light source 51 through glass .panel i65 rand reflect. it toward the; backgof the tray;v and the.inclined panel.' The inclined extent 63 -of the reflector'serves-to focus the light makes-the fluorescent light; its wiring, switch;

and connections conveniently accessible for re pair or replacement. I

It will be apparent that the device of thepresent invention is not limited 'in 'its"usefulness to a bed tray, but may be utilized as a trayor table of general. usefulness as, .for instance, a. makeuptray to hold cosmetics and.otherwise.

The invention, in its broader aspects. is .not 1 limited to the specific mechanisms shown and de-' scribed but departures may be madextherefrom, within the scope of the accompanying claim, without departing from'the principles 1 of. the .in:-.

vention and without sacrificingzitsiachief 'advan-:-

ing, in combination, a horizontal panel, a-second panel forming an extensionof said horizontal panel at the rear edge thereof pivotally.intercon-- nected :to said. horizontalv panel-.to :be' positioned in the same plane as said .horizontal-panel-orJ lifted to a raised position:' inclined with respect thereto, an. elongated cylindrical fluorescent light, means forimountin'g said light beneath-the level of said: horizontalpanel in frontof the front :edge thereof crosswise of the tray-saidlight extendinga major proportion of the width of the" tray, a vertical panel spaced from the-front edgeof the horizontal panel 'extendingsubstantially above and substantially below said horizontal panel and being at least T as wide as the length of said fluorescent th'e'entire lower half-circumference of the cylindrical surface of said light and extending sub stanhally vertically upward along the surface of' said-vertical panel .facingsaid. panels to aplace substantially above". the upper surface of saidhorizontal panel, said-reflector extending:- cross- P wise of the tray at leastthe full. length .or isaid light,- and a: translucent panel. horizontally ar-;

ranged at the front edge of said horizontal panel. to. form a horizontal extension, thereof said; translucent panel being: positioned abovej-said light and at leastas-long as said light-andextending to said'verticalpanel, whereby. light is.

.directed to .said second. p anel .when in raised-in light, a reflector curved about.

5 clined position by the portion of said reflector Number above the upper surface of the horizontal panel. 1,951,242 WEBSTER E. JANSSEN. 2,147,326 5 2,282,135 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,398,923 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 33? Number Name Date 1 34 :4 0

1,582,437 Stanley Apr. 27, 1926 Name Date Gray Mar. 13, 1934 Welch Feb. 14, 1939 Janssen May 5, 1942 Dahl Apr. 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Apr. 27, 1922 England Apr. 16, 1931 

